Me Talk Pretty One Day Review (and Next Month's Pick)

Let's start with Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris. This wasn't really a winner for me, but several of my friends loved it.

I will admit that David Sedaris has a writing style that is amusing, but I still didn't think this book was as funny as it was purported to be. To be completely honest, I ditched it about 2/3 of the way through. It just wasn't a book that I wanted to keep reading.

Don't let my review stop you from reading it, though.  Like I said, everyone else I know who has read this quite enjoyed it.

On to next month. The book I have selected for April is

Edenbrooke 
by Julianne Donaldson

From Goodreads:

Marianne Daventry will do anything to escape the boredom of Bath and the amorous attentions of an unwanted suitor. So when an invitation arrives from her twin sister, Cecily, to join her at a sprawling country estate, she jumps at the chance. Thinking she’ll be able to relax and enjoy her beloved English countryside while her sister snags the handsome heir of Edenbrooke, Marianne finds that even the best laid plans can go awry.

From a terrifying run-in with a highwayman to a seemingly harmless flirtation, Marianne finds herself embroiled in an unexpected adventure filled with enough romance and intrigue to keep her mind racing. Will she be able to rein in her traitorous heart, or will a mysterious stranger sweep her off her feet? Fate had something other than a relaxing summer in mind when it sent Marianne to Edenbrooke.

This "Proper Romance" has a gotten great reviews on Goodreads (average 4.41 stars), Amazon (average 4.7 stars), and Barnes & Noble (average 5 stars).

I hope this book is more enjoyable than my other picks :-P

Happy Reading!

Lucky Leprechaun Punch

I know this is a bit late, but things have been crazy around my house lately! My darling sister gave birth to a beautiful baby, so I've been a little distracted.

isn't she sweet?

Even in the midst of baby-excitement, my family found a way to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. My family likes to celebrate St. Pat's in style. We go all out with corned beef, cabbage, potatoes, carrots, and lots of green food to accompany the traditional Irish fare.

This year, I concocted what I like to call "Lucky Leprechaun Punch." My brother-in-law said he would drink it everyday, so don't think you have to save this for next St. Patty's Day. You can break out this tasty beverage anytime you want! I think that kiddos would be especially excited over a vibrantly green refreshing drink.

Lucky Leprechaun Punch
Recipe by stuff-by-sara.blogspot.com

1 packet lemon-lime drink mix  (I used Kool-Aid)
1 can frozen limeade concentrate
3/4 cup sugar
1 quart water
2 liters lemon-lime soda (Sprite, 7-Up, Sierra Mist--whatever tickles your fancy)
1-2 cups ice

Combine all ingredients in a punch bowl or gallon-size pitcher. Stir to combine. Enjoy!

Jelly Surprise Muffins

I love muffins. My mom made muffins quite a bit during my growing-up years. We ate them for breakfast but also for snacks. Yesterday, I had a hankering for my favorite muffins.

They look pretty average, right? Wait until you bite into one.

Jelly! Yum!

The jelly center is baked right into these little beauties. My favorite is strawberry jam, followed closely by seedless raspberry. You can use whatever jam or jelly tickles your fancy.

Jelly Surprise Muffins
Recipe by Sara (stuff-by-sara.blogspot.com)

2 cups flour
¼ cup sugar
1 Tbsp baking powder
¾ tsp salt
1 beaten egg
1 cup milk
½ cup oil
12 tsp jelly, jam, or marmalade

Preheat your oven to 350º F. Prepare your muffin pans by greasing them or lining each cup with paper liners.

In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. In a separate bowl, mix egg, milk, and oil. Make a well in the center of the dry mixture, and pour in the wet ingredients. Mix until just combined. Be careful not to over mix, since that can give you tough muffins instead of the tender, delicious texture we're after.

Gently spoon batter into each muffin cup until it is about 1/2 full. Reserve the other half of the batter. Top each muffin with 1 tsp jelly or jam. Cover with remaining batter.

Bake at 350º for 20-25 minutes. Makes 12 muffins.

If you eat these little cuties warm, be careful of their jelly centers. They will be hot, so don't burn yourself!

To Pin or Not to Pin

That is the question.

(source)

I am a Pinterest lover. I loooooove Pinterest. Before joining Pinterest, I was known to bookmark a lot of webpages. I wanted to save every good idea or neat project. So I would bookmark each and every one. And then I found Pinterest. GAME. CHANGER. I can still gather all my ideas, and I can satisfy my OCD-like need for order by organizing my pins on individual boards. Win!

The only problem with my Pinteresting addiction is that some ideas that circulate Pinterest aren't worth my time. Sure, the look really cool. Or they sound good in theory. But in practice? Not so much. Enter in: To Pin or Not to Pin. My guide to what has worked for me and what hasn't. I will share with you, litte by little, my Pinterest discoveries: the good, the bad, and the ugly.


First up, homemade Oatmeal Cream Pies.

(original source)

You know you've seen this pin. With 291 likes and 1509 repins, who hasn't? I tried this recipe about a week ago. I'll start off by saying that I am a bit of a food snob. But who doesn't love an Oatmeal Cream Pie? They are one processed, pre-packaged food I will admit I enjoy on occasion. These, however, didn't fit the bill for this tough critic. The cookies were not as dark as the picture, and while tasty, lacked the signature flavor of my Little Debbies. The cookies were also more cakey than chewy. The marshmallow cream filling was pretty good, though. Don't get me wrong, I think this is a good cookie recipe, but not a good oatmeal cream pie recipe. Since I was hoping to make knock-off Oatmeal Cream Pies, this wasn't a winner for me. (Note: this review is regarding the above recipe only. There are several other Oatmeal Cream Pie recipes on Pinterest, but I haven't tried them yet.)

To Pin or Not to Pin? Not. 

Next on the line up: Yoga Routine for Better Sleep

(original source)

There are only a million-and-one yoga pins out there. Which ones are worthy? Well, let me tell you this one is. It is also the easiest yoga routine I have ever done, so it is totally do-able for you novices out there (like myself). It doesn't require any special equipment or mats, which is also a win for those of us who occasionally dabble in the yoga scene. This yoga sequence had me ready to roll over and start snoozing. It was relaxing, and I felt like I was doing my body a solid by "exercising" before sleep.

To Pin or Not to Pin? Pin!



Up to bat, that crazy Mountain Dew glow stick thing

(source)

I went camping this last weekend (yes, in March. Yes, it was freezing). My brother was with me, and he decided that it would be a good time to put the Mountain Dew Glow Stick to the test. Result: undrinkable, uninteresting Mountain Dew. No glow. Not even a dim light. After consulting with several friends who were equally disappointed with their own attempts, I label this a fail. Snopes confirms that this is just a silly hoax. Completely sad, since it would have been awesome to have a glowing bottle of Mountain Dew.

To Pin or Not to Pin? Not. 



Last one for today: let's talk Brownies.

(original source)

As mentioned previously, I am a bit of a food snob. When it comes to brownies, I am really finicky. I like a moist, chewy, rich, fudgy brownie. Emphasis on fudgy. Yum. No cake-like brownies for me. And none of those light-brown impostors. I am a fan of America's Test Kitchen, so when ATK was mentioned in the pin description, I knew I had to try this recipe. These take a little more work than your average brownie recipe, but they are soooo worth the effort. This recipe embodies everything I love in a brownie: decadent, but not overpoweringly sweet; great texture; rich chocolate flavor. I have made these brownies twice already, and you can bet I won't stop there. This is a recipe worth savoring.

To Pin or Not to Pin? Pin!



I hope this post was helpful to you! If there are pins you want me to review, leave me a comment.

Follow me on Pinterest: pinterest.com/sararachels

Girls in White Dresses Review and New Book-of-the-Month

The book I chose for February was Girls in White Dresses by Jennifer Close. I read about half straight through and skimmed the rest. There are at least a dozen f-words scattered throughout the book, and call me a prude, but I really didn't think it contributed to the story. This book lacked emotion and feeling—of any kind. It had absolutely no plot.

You know how some books just compel you to read? Well, for me this was the complete opposite. I kept waiting for the story to pick up...and I'm still waiting. I thought I would be able to relate to the characters, but their stories are told in a way that just didn't interest me. There was no what happens next? sort of feeling at all. Sorry if you attempted to read this one. I give it a big thumbs-down.

 Anyways. On to new and exciting things. The Book-of-the-Month for March is

 Me Talk Pretty One Day 
 by David Sedaris

For those of you not familiar with him, David Sedaris is a humorist, author, comedian, and radio contributor. His book, Me Talk Pretty One Day, won him the 2001 Thurber Prize for American Humor and the title of "Humorist of the Year" by Time magazine.

From the inside flap: "David Sedaris's new collection tells a most unconventional life story. It begins with a North Carolina childhood filled with speech therapy classes and unwanted guitar lessons taught by a midget. From budding performance artist to writing teacher in Chicago, his career leads him to New York and eventually, of all places, France. Arriving a 'spooky man-child' capable of communicating only through nouns, he undertakes language instruction that leads him ever deeper into cultural confusion. Whether describing the Easter bunny to puzzled classmates or watching a group of men play soccer with a cow, Sedaris brings a view and voice like no other—'Original, acid, and wild,' said the L.A. Times—to every unforgettable encounter."

I chose this book because a friend of mine mentioned it to me a few months ago. She and I have similar taste in humor, so her recommendation seems worthy. I love a good laugh, so Me Talk Pretty One Day it is. Here's to an adventure in reading.

Cinnamon Chip Bread

Today I had a hankering for...something. I didn't know exactly what I wanted, so I headed to the pantry. And guess what I found lurking there? A bag of these lovelies:

These tend to be a seasonal item (at least in my grocery stores), but I had some leftover from Christmastime. These are a unique ingredient, so I wanted to do something special with them. And thus, Cinnamon Chip Bread was born. Yum.

On to the baking!

Cinnamon Chip Bread
Recipe by Sara (stuff-by-sara.blogspot.com)

1½ cups milk
¼ cup + 2 Tbsp sugar
1 Tbsp yeast
½ cup butter, room temperature
2 eggs, room temperature
¾ tsp salt
6 cups flour
1 (10 ounce) bag Hershey's Cinnamon Chips

Before we get started, pop your cinnamon chips in the freezer. We'll get to those later.

Warm milk over low heat. You want it to be warm enough to activate your yeast, but not hot enough to kill it. About the temperature you would make your baby's bottle is perfect. Dissolve sugar in warm milk, then add yeast. Let this mixture hang out for 5-10 minutes. It should get a little foamy. (If it doesn't get foamy, start over. Remember, make sure your milk isn't too hot. If your yeast mixture doesn't foam up a second time, you might need to buy more yeast.)

Now it's time to start adding flour. I like to add flour in stages. I add about 2 cups of flour to my yeast mixture to start with. Then I add my room temperature butter. Then 2 more cups flour. Then I add my lightly beaten eggs. Then finish off with flour. This is a fairly soft dough, but it should start to pull away from the sides of the bowl as you knead it.

Work your dough into a ball, then cover your bowl with a tea towel (not a terry cloth towel--you don't want to get fibers in your dough). Let your dough rise in a warm place until it doubles in volume. For my dough, this was about an hour.

Now comes the fun part: the cinnamon chips! These chips have a low melting point, which is why I had you put them in the freezer. Take the chips out of the freezer, and add the whole bag to your dough. The cinnamon chips will thaw in a jiffy, so if you want chips (not smears) in your bread, you will work speedily. Gently work the chips throughout your dough. If your dough is a little sticky, spray your hands with cooking spray and continue on.

Shape your chip-laden dough into 2 logs, each about the length of your loaf pan. Grease your pans and place the dough inside. Now comes rising round two. Let your dough rise again until double, about 40 to 45 minutes.

Bake at 350º for 25-30 minutes.

Eat some hot bread smeared with butter. Aaahh.

If cinnamon chips aren't available at your local grocery store, you can order them online! I know a few other brands make cinnamon chips as well. I haven't tried any of them, but I'm sure they would substitute nicely.

Chocolate-Raspberry XOX Cookies

With Valentine's Day right around the corner, I thought it was time to get creative in the kitchen! These cookies fit the bill for a romantic (and scrumptious) treat. And with their striped centers, they are cute to boot.

This recipe starts with a rich chocolate cookie dough studded with miniature chocolate chips. Raspberry Hugs seal the deal with extra special flavor and a pop of color. Bake them up, and see if you can't get some Xs and Os from your sweetie.

Chocolate-Raspberry XOX Cookies
Recipe adapted from Our Best Bites

1/2 cup shortening
1/2 cup butter
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup white sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
2 1/2 c. flour
6 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
1 (10 ounce) bag mini chocolate chips
1 (10 ounce) bag Hershey’s Raspberry Hugs, unwrapped

Cream together shortening, butter, and sugars until light and fluffy. Add eggs and vanilla, blend well.

In a separate bowl, combine baking powder, baking soda, salt, flour, and cocoa powder. Whisk together until the mixture is uniform in color.

Add the flour mixture to the butter/sugar/egg mixture. Combine well. Stir in chocolate chips. Refrigerate the dough for about an hour.

Heat oven to 350º. Spray your cookie sheet(s) with cooking spray. Roll chilled dough into balls, or portion out using a cookie scoop (I opted for the cookie scoop here). You want about a tablespoon per cookie. Bake for 9 minutes.

While still on the sheet pan, press a Raspberry Hug in the center of each cookie. Carefully transfer cookies to a cooling rack. Give these cookies plenty of time to cool. If the Hugs are having a hard time re-solidifying, feel free to refrigerate them. (I like to eat them when the Hug is still soft, but they're harder to package that way).

Enjoy with your sweetheart :-)

Note: I ran out of Raspberry Hugs before I ran out of dough. Of course, I didn't have a problem eating a few a few double-chocolate cookies. heh heh.